Turtle bay beach

Foodland

waves

Pupukea trail dirt start

Pupukea trail climb

Pupukea road climb

Pupukea view of Mt Kaala

View of Mt Kaala w: rider

Historic site view

Pupukea guard tower entrance

Puu historic site

Pupukea road climb Sunset ranch

Pupukea trail climb day 2

Oahu state park map

Pupukea guard tower

Turtle bay map

Pupukea straight away

Pupukea view of north west side

Pupukea trail start

Pupukea gate entrance climb

More wind mills

Pupukea descent

Pupukea descent windmill

East of sharks cove

The entire path from start to the end of the trail could take you as little as 30 - 45 minutes. But if it’s your first time up there, you will probably want to stop often. The 🔭 views are spectacular! There’s a few trails off the main road, which you can take or at least explore a bit before hopping back on. I’ve never veered too far off the main road, so no guidance from me. 


The Hawaiian 🌞 sun is no joke! Make sure to put sunscreen on 🌧 rain or ☀️ shine. You can expect it to feel about 5 - 10 degrees cooler when you’re on the trail, since you’re in the forest and higher up in the mountain. The warmest part of the ride will definitely be at [Shark’s Cove](https://goo.gl/maps/oBXLJPXkdV8mTvY76 "Shark's Cove map") (the beginning). The end of the trail is facing the windward side, so it’ll always be slightly cooler. If you’re lucky you’ll have the wind at your back on the return to start. 

For the most part you can bet that it’ll be warm or hot, as one would think when you hear Hawaii. It is a tropical island so it can rain quite a bit. Be sure to check the forecast. And if it looks like rain, it is probably rain. I wouldn’t recommend riding in the rain, as 🏎 drivers will be worse! 


Once past the 🐎 horses you’ll see the dirt. You’ve made it to the trail! You’ll run into a  gate, which has a warning sign that basically says there might be some puddles and mud ahead. I find it is easiest to sneak through the left 🪨 rocks. The right side requires you to jump over the fence. Also take care of that bike. Those rocks are not 🩹forgiving against carbon - trust me! 

⚠️ __Caution__: the dirt / mud can be very slippery. You may slip on any of the turns or curves. Even the foliage on the pavement can cause you to slip. I’ve done it in both cases! 

Pupukea False Flat

Matt Goo

Climb

Once you’ve reached the top the descent is rolling fast. The Strava segment is literally named, [“4 Mile Downhill”](https://www.strava.com/segments/26814875/ "4 mile downhill strava segment"). There are 2 or 3 little bumps/hills, but if you have enough speed you won’t need to pedal. It’s super fun and difficult to stop yourself to see the scenery. But by that point know that you’ve probably seen most of the best views on the ridge. When you’ve reached the tollbooth, there’s a path hidden right behind it, so no need to get out of the saddle. 


Once you return from the historic site (if you choose), the climb up to the trail head is easy. No more than 5 - 7%. The road is very wide, with very minimal cars. It’s not shaded so be sure to have that sunscreen on. You’ll know you’re nearing the top once you see some ranches / horses. 


## Getting back

If you’re feeling really pumped from that descent, you can just turn right back around and the do the reverse. It's actually a lot more difficult. Some of the steepest stuff I’ve ridden, and I live in San Francisco. There’s 3 +20% grade pitches. They are short, but they are tough! There is a bit of tree cover, so there’s that :). If you wanna quit while you’re ahead, Kam Hwy is the way to go. There are more sights along the Hwy, and it is 90% flat. The ride back to Shark’s Cove is probably only 20 - 30 minutes. The traffic up until Sunset Beach - or about 60% of the way to Shark’s Cove is limited. 

Gravel

A guide to help you plan your road and gravel cycling trip to Oahu's North Shore. Ride the most remote and scenic trails on the island.

Treads - Pupukea - The Lost Highway

Pupukea: Foodland to Maulukua

Pupukea Loop

## Intro
Hawaii as you know it is a bustling town of tourists and relaxation seekers. A town of big resorts and hotels where families and friends vacation and soak up the sun 😎. What you may be unaware of is how much of an outdoor scene exists. Being a tropical volcanic island chain, there is no shortage of greenery and mountains. If you’ve made it to this page, you more than likely love that combination when looking for your vacation spots 🚴‍♀️. 

## Why should I ride this?
Pupukea - The Lost Highway as some call it, is the best gravel / tarmac road on the main island of Oahu. Free from traffic and the constant buzz of the city – nowhere else on the island can you find a road like this. But tucked away on this lost ridge in the 🌊 North Shore is a forgotten road – one that only locals really know about. Here are a few reasons this trail is a 💎 gem: 

* 🚫🚗 Once you’ve reached the trail,it’s car free, and for the most part pretty empty.
* 🔭 There are sweeping 180 degree views of the northern part of the island.
* 🚫🦟 Mosquito free (most of the time and depending on the weather). But as long as you keep moving you won’t be bit.
* 😎 Cooler - as you’re up a bit higher in elevation, the tropical weather cools off in the mountains and forest.
* 🦕 Riding this trail is like stepping into a scene from Jurassic Park or old Hawaii. A lot of the area is old and undisturbed.
* 🇺🇸 Road is maintained by the US government, meaning it's the smoothest road you will ride compared to the rest of the island.

## Getting there
Getting here can be a bit of a pain as you might have to fight the Haleiwa traffic on Kam Hwy (Kamehameha Highway or the road that encompasses the island), depending on where you are staying. You do, of course, always have the option of driving, but where’s the fun in that! Just kidding - biking on Oahu is not for the faint of heart. Honolulu has tried to make the downtown bike friendly, but doesn’t compare to cities such as Portland, Seattle or San Francisco. 

Outside of the city, the roads are narrow and riddled with potholes. There’s a lot of abuse given cars are the main mode of transportation on the island; on top of the Hawaiian sun, rain, and salty ocean mist. Emergency lanes / road shoulders (what we would think are the bike lanes) are narrow and often full of garbage – the type of road garbage you do not want your thin bike tires riding in. On top of this, drivers are not accustomed to cyclists which can lead to driver frustration and road rage. In general, however, the majority of locals are patient and super friendly on the road. It’s actually the tourists you really have to watch out for – not that you have any control. 

That said, I ride to get to the Pupukea trail head and haven’t run into anything out of the ordinary. If this is your first time on the road, you’ll most likely want to stop a handful of times to see the ocean view. These beaches are home to some of the world’s top surf spots. Not a bad place to come back to with a bathing suit 🏄. 

## Who can ride this?
There isn’t much of a bike scene here on Oahu, which in some ways is good for us! Most of the locals that enjoy the outdoors are either hitting the beaches 🏖️, surfing 🏄, or fishing 🐟. The only reason this road exists is actually because it’s a military road. __DISCLAIMER__: Technically you are not supposed to be on this road. The beginning is totally open and free to the public, but about 2 - 3 miles in you’re not supposed to go past a gate with a clear warning sign. Given that, I’ve seen hikers, dogs, other bicyclists, as well as dirt bikes on this road. Even though the road is for military purposes, there is literally no military activity or anyone guarding it. The guard tower looks like it’s been abandoned for decades (see photos). I will say though that the road is pristinely maintained, and they are constantly doing construction on the road (It’s almost like they have the budget, and need to spend the money aka use-it-or-lose-it). But as always, go at your own risk.

### Beginners
I wouldn’t recommend this for beginners. If you’re not used to the sun or heat, the weather can be brutal in the summer. Winter is actually a great time to go (more on this in [weather tab](/climbs/pupukea?tabId=Weather)). Getting here can be a challenge as well (as mentioned above). Also if it is raining or recently rained, it can be super slippery and lead to crashes. The descents are very steep (> 20%). There’s a ton of road debris / trees / branches as not that many cars / trucks travel on the ridge. 

### Intermediate - Pro’s
This is a solid course of twists and turns, and challenging steep climbs. You are on a ridge for the majority of the ride – expect rollers. They are quite a bit of fun if you can keep your speed up. 

For the leisurely biker, you can take your time and not stress too much. There are only 3 short steep climbs, of which you could walk and not lose too much time. You have a bit of an advantage, since the steep climbs are paved. I estimate 95% of it is paved, except for the very beginning. The dirt part is relatively flat, and only has one slight curve. You can ride this with a road bike and feel comfortable.

I cannot stress enough that you should not miss this one if you’re biking anywhere on Oahu.


Pupukea to the top

You can either opt to start from the beach ([Shark’s Cove](https://goo.gl/maps/dX3QXWgtRW8sJYhMA "Shark's Cove map")), or from the actual trail. Starting from Shark's Cove is pretty nice since its the beginning of a residential area and doesn’t have that much traffic. The climb doesn’t get too steep except for a hairpin turn (no more than 12% grade). After that turn it's gradual. If you wanna take a break after the steeper section, there’s a great view point at a historic site called [Pu’u O Mahuka Heiau](https://goo.gl/maps/NfCFHaMW4CTWRYgt8 "Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau map"). It is a religious site that offers beautiful views of [Waimea Bay](https://goo.gl/maps/EsRUC1mNsCECoKc69 "Waimea Bay map") and the Valley right beneath.

## What gear?
As I said earlier, the road is some of the nicest and smoothest tarmac on the island. There’s little to no 🚦traffic, and they recently paved a lot of it. The 🌬 air is always super fresh up there - you can’t beat it! And if you’re riding in the winter, you’ll love not having to put the arm and leg warmers on!

### Minimalist bike recommendation
* Road bike 
  * 25mm tires

### Ideal bike recommendation
* Gravel or endurance road bike
  * 30 mm slick tires
  * Dirt is smooth as well with little to no gravel / rocks. You might find some tree branches / road debris, so having bigger tires is always a plus.

### Beginner bike recommendation
  * Gravel or endurance road bike
    * 37 mm slick tires

## Water 💦🐳
There is water everywhere! Even though you’re surrounded by salt water, there is water all along Kam Hwy at the beaches. All beaches in the state are public, and many include parks. If you see a park, then there is more than likely a water fountain and public showers. 

There is no water on the trail or the Pupukea road climb. 1 - 2 bottles will suffice for the entire trip depending on how long you want to hang out up there. 

## Food 🍕
Food situation is similar to the water situation. No food on the climb or descent portion. You will run into 🌇 hotels, 🥗 restaurants, and food trucks along the hwy. Your best bet is at the beginning/end of the loop at Shark’s Cove. Right across the street there is a group of permanent food trucks serving local foods catering to tourists. And a local landmark, Foodland, which is the go-to grocery store of Hawaii. On your return, the biggest resort is Turtle Bay. I’m sure if you’re starving and can’t wait for anything, stopping inside the cafe / restaurant is your best bet until Shark’s Cove area. 


Lost Highway Up

Hawaii

The best trail on the island of Oahu, with sweeping views of the North Shore